Mining Incidents

White Bear Mica Plant Metal/Non-Metal

Pacer Minerals, LLC · Facility
Custer, Custer County, SD  ·  Abandoned
MSHA Mine ID: 3901158

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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
21
Years on record
2000–2021
Latest incident
Nov 2021
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
197
citations
56
significant & substantial
$45,226
proposed penalties
$45,226
paid to date
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Quarterly safety rates
Citations per million employee-hours, as reported to MSHA
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2024 Q3 30 0 0 0.0
2024 Q2 30 0 0 0.0
2024 Q1 30 0 0 0.0
2023 Q4 6,467 0 0 0.0
2023 Q3 7,208 0 0 0.0
2023 Q2 9,228 6 1 650.2
2023 Q1 5,970 0 0 0.0
2022 Q4 9,928 10 3 1007.3
Quarters under 100,000 reported hours are greyed: too few hours for a stable rate.
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

21 on file

2021 · 2 incidents

November 9, 2021 SD · Metal/Non-Metal quality control technician, laboratory technician, laboratory assistant MACHINERY
Pacer Minerals, LLC · Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

While pressing aluminum pack, felt right shoulder pull and pop. Shoulder is torn.

May 27, 2021 SD · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech MACHINERY
Pacer Minerals, LLC · Contact with hot objects or substances

The miner was lying on their right side while welding a patch on a piece of stationary equipment. A piece of welding slag was able to pass by EE's welding helmet and enter EE's ear. Pain was immediate. There was swelling to the interior of the ear limiting hearing from that ear.

2018 · 5 incidents

October 12, 2018 SD · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator MACHINERY
Pacer Minerals, LLC · Caught in, under or between running or meshing objects

The dust collector for the feldspar process collects fines in a bulk bag. The operator was making adjustments to the bag when operator slipped and fell. Operator put left hand out to catch self and caught a finger in the chain drive for the airlock.

September 10, 2018 SD · Metal/Non-Metal bagging, package operator HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Pacer Minerals, LLC · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was mounting a production board with zip ties. EE was cutting the tail off one of the zip ties with a utility knife and EE cut EE's left wrist.

July 30, 2018 SD · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Pacer Minerals, LLC · Fall to the walkway or working surface

The operator was checking on the quantity of rock in a feed bin. EE climbed down the ladder and stepped on a pile of rock on the ground. The rock shifted and ee lost balance. EE put hand out to catch fall and injured wrist. After going to the doctor it was determined ee had broken a bone in wrist and is now wearing a cast.

May 4, 2018 SD · Metal/Non-Metal IGNITION OR EXPLOSION OF GAS OR DUST
Pacer Minerals, LLC · Accident type, without injuries

Truck fill point for main propane tank burst at flexible coupling. Once gas reached vaporizer, it caused an explosion. Two employees ran to the tank to put out the fire with a fire extinguisher and shut off the valve to the main tank. The fire was put out immediately. No injuries were sustained. Contractor called, is on site conducting repairs. MSHA Case #01082020.

February 12, 2018 SD · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Pacer Minerals, LLC · Fall onto or against objects

Employee was loading ore into a hopper using a Bobcat skid loader. The hopper was plugged so the employee got out to unplug it. When getting back into the Bobcat, EE's foot slipped off the step and EE fell into it hitting ribs on the right side.

2017 · 1 incident

January 19, 2017 SD · Metal/Non-Metal clerk, timekeeper, office worker, director of sales SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Pacer Corporation · Fall to the walkway or working surface

Slipped and fell on ice in parking lot of facility.

2015 · 2 incidents

May 11, 2015 SD · Metal/Non-Metal prep plant foreman, supervisor, mill plant supervisor, kiln supervisor HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Pacer Corporation · Over-exertion in wielding or throwing objects

Dropped Hammer - Cut Thumb - 4 stitches administered

January 15, 2015 SD · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Pacer Corporation · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Lower Back - This claim under investigation by Pacer's Workmen Comp and not yet classified as a work comp injury

2014 · 2 incidents

April 2, 2014 SD · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Pacer Corporation · Fall to the walkway or working surface

Snowing heavily, fell in parking lot on snow/ice.

February 1, 2014 SD · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Pacer Corporation · Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

While on ladder, EE was pulling slack out of the new skirting being installed on the conveyor belt #1 and strained or pulled lower back. Continued to do light duty work rest of the day.

2010 · 1 incident

May 10, 2010 SD · Metal/Non-Metal prep plant foreman, supervisor, mill plant supervisor, kiln supervisor HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Pacer Corporation · Over-exertion in wielding or throwing objects

Trying to unplug wet feed in a feed hopper using a sledge hammer and injured left shoulder.

2009 · 2 incidents

June 1, 2009 SD · Metal/Non-Metal FIRE
Pacer Corporation · Accident type, without injuries

Between 5 am & 5:30 am on Monday 6-1-09 it was discovered that there had been a fire in the air compressor room over the week end. It was ok at end of shift 10:30 pm friday 5-29-09. Fire had burned itself out. The area was secured & proper authorities contacted. Fire Marshal ruled a heater caused it & we are waiting his report.

February 19, 2009 SD · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator POWERED HAULAGE
Pacer Corporation · Struck by powered moving object

Forklift was moving full pallets. Driver did not see injury walk in front of him. He did not see forklift. He was knocked down and sprain ankle.

2008 · 4 incidents

August 21, 2008 SD · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Pacer Corporation · Over-exertion in lifting objects

Employee was stacking 50# bags on a pallet and pulled muscles in lower back. Employee was released to come back to work on 8/25/08 but chose not to return until 8/26/08. Treated at Custer Regional Clinic by Dr for lower back strain.

August 8, 2008 SD · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Pacer Corporation · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

At home in evening he removed a flake of mica from his R eye. On Sun, 8/10 went to ER & was treated (found nothing in eye) - given antibiotics. 8/11 went to Advanced Eye Care. Was told eye was scratched & was given eye drops. 8/11 reported issue to Pit Mgr. 8/15 went back to Advanced Eye Care for more treatment - did not work, Returned to work 8/18/08 able to see out of eye.

April 11, 2008 SD · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Pacer Corporation · Over-exertion in lifting objects

Employee was stacking 50# bags on a pallet and over-extended his right elbow. Treated at Custer Regional by doctor for lateral epicandylitis

January 17, 2008 SD · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Pacer Corporation · Over-exertion in lifting objects

Employee stacked 48 50# bags on a pallet. He then went to get forklift. He removed the portable tank heater and hung it on a hook on the wall. He experienced a sharp pain in his lower back. He tried to return to stacking bags but the pain persisted in his lower back. He went to the Custer Regional Medical Clinic were he received 4 lidocaine injection in his lower back and med.

2001 · 1 incident

October 22, 2001 SD · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator OTHER
Pacer Corporation · Struck by flying object

EE WAS WORKING ON ROOF OF MICA MILL WHEN WIND KICKED UP AND BLEW DUST IN HIS RIGHT EYE. FIRST AID WAS DONE AT SITE. THE NEXT MORNING EE STILL EXPERIENCED IRRITATION AND WENT TO THE EMERGENCY R OOM AT THE HOSPITAL.

2000 · 1 incident

October 26, 2000 SD · Metal/Non-Metal coal sampler MACHINERY
Pacer Corporation · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS USING A GRINDER WITH A BRUSH TO REMOVE OLD PAIN FROM A PIECE OF EQUIPMENT. HE WAS GRINDING AT NECK LEVEL. HE HIT A BUMP IN THE METAL AND THE GRINDER BOUNCED BACK HITTING HIM IN THE THRO AT AREA. HE RECEIVED A LONG SCRAPE ON THE NECK. THE EE WENT TO THE ENERGENCVY ROOM ON SATURDAY VECAUSE HE HAD GOTTEN HOARSE.